CM Fadnavis Rides Pune Metro Line 3's All-Women Pink Metro
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis rode the all-women-operated 'Pink Metro' on Pune Metro Line 3 from Mahalunge to Hinjewadi Phase-2 on 3 November 2026, joined by both Deputy CMs and a Union minister, highlighting the corridor's role in easing Pune's IT-belt congestion.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis rode the Pink Metro on Pune Metro Line 3 on 3 November 2026 .
The Pink Metro runs between PMR 10 (Shri Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Mahalunge) and PMR 4 (Hinjewadi Phase-2, Circle 2) .
Every operational role on the Pink Metro — including train driving — is held by women .
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde , Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar , Union MoS Murlidhar Mohol , and State Minister Madhuri Misal were also present.
The Hinjewadi corridor is Pune's primary IT hub and has faced severe traffic congestion for years.
The Pune Metro project received central government approval in 2016 ; full commercial operations and corridor integration remain the next milestones.
A metro train staffed entirely by women pulled out of Shri Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex (PMR 10), Mahalunge on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 — and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was on board. The journey, covering the Pune Metro Line 3 segment between PMR 10 and PMR 4 at Hinjewadi Phase-2, Circle 2, marked a visible milestone for women's participation in urban public transport operations in Maharashtra.
Women at Every Post: What Makes the Pink Metro Different
The 'Pink Metro' is not just a colour-coded branding exercise. From the driver's cab to platform management and ticketing, every operational role on this dedicated service is held by women. Fadnavis noted that the initiative represents a meaningful extension of women's leadership into critical public-infrastructure roles — moving well beyond tokenism into front-line transit operations.
During the ride, the Chief Minister interacted with school students and general commuters, underscoring the city-building dimension of the project: a metro that is fast, safe, and comfortable, he said, gives Pune residents a more efficient and reliable alternative to road transport.
A Coalition Show of Force at Hinjewadi
The event brought together the full weight of Maharashtra's ruling coalition. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena faction and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar of the NCP joined Fadnavis on the occasion, alongside Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol and State Minister Madhuri Misal. The presence of both deputy CMs and a central minister signals how politically significant the Pune Metro expansion has become for the BJP-led Mahayuti government — especially in a city that anchors Maharashtra's IT economy.
Hinjewadi's Long Wait for a Rail Link
Hinjewadi is Pune's largest IT and technology corridor, home to hundreds of software companies and tens of thousands of daily commuters who have historically battled some of the city's worst traffic congestion. Pune Metro Line 3, connecting the sports complex at Mahalunge to Hinjewadi Phase-2, is precisely the artery the district has needed. The metro project received in-principle central government approval in 2016 as part of national urban mobility initiatives, and Maharashtra's BJP-led coalition has since treated it as a flagship urban-infrastructure deliverable.
Full commercial operations on the PMR 10–PMR 4 corridor, and its eventual integration with existing metro corridors across Pune, remain the next benchmarks to watch.
Point of View
While projecting women's empowerment in a visible, non-symbolic way. Deploying both Deputy CMs and a Union minister for a metro ride signals that the Hinjewadi corridor is being positioned as a joint NDA achievement rather than a BJP-only deliverable. The choice of the IT belt as the showcase location is also deliberate — connecting metro expansion to economic productivity is a more durable political argument than ribbon-cutting alone. Whether full commercial operations materialise on schedule will determine how well this optics investment translates into lasting public credit.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pune Metro Pink Metro service?
The Pink Metro is a dedicated service on Pune Metro Line 3 where all operational roles — including train driving and platform management — are performed exclusively by women. CM Fadnavis rode the service on 3 November 2026 between Mahalunge and Hinjewadi Phase-2.
Which stations does the Pune Metro Line 3 Pink Metro connect?
The Pink Metro journey covered the segment from PMR 10 at Shri Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Mahalunge to PMR 4 at Hinjewadi Phase-2, Circle 2 in Pune.
Who was present at the Pune Metro Pink Metro event?
Alongside CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, and State Minister Madhuri Misal attended the event.
When did Pune Metro get central government approval?
Pune Metro received in-principle approval from the central government in 2016 as part of national urban transport initiatives.
Why is the Hinjewadi metro corridor important for Pune?
Hinjewadi is Pune's largest IT and technology hub, home to hundreds of software companies. The metro corridor addresses severe daily traffic congestion affecting thousands of commuters working in the area.
